Alps SKFL series
 | |
| Manufacturer | Alps Electric |
|---|---|
| Product code | SKFL or SKFLxx |
| Switch type | Linear |
| Sense method | Metal leaf |
| Total travel | ca. 3.7 mm |
| Keycap mount | Alps mount (variation) |
| Switch mount | PCB mount |
Alps SKFL[1] (formerly Alps low-profile oval slider) is a fairly low-profile Alps switch. It uses a variation of Alps mount in that it features a peg that fits inside the larger peg in the keycap (which limits the available keycaps that fit it).
Contents
Description
Alps SKFL switches are around 25% shorter than SKCL/SKCM switches, at circa 8.6–8.8 mm tall, instead of 11.6 mm tall. Depth is approximately 13 mm, and width is approximately 15 mm (approximately 14 mm excluding the legs, which protrude from the sides). The slider has around 3.7 mm of travel.
The switch is PCB mount only. The base of the switch is grey moulded plastic (which is sometimes mistaken for metal), above which is a sheet steel lid with folded-down sides. The Alps logo is stamped into the lid. The sides of the lid lock into place into the plastic base with small lugs stamped into the metal. The ends of the sides then protrude through the PCB and are soldered alongside the legs from the electrical contacts. It is likely that the switch can only be opened when de-soldered, and even then opening the switch without causing damage is extremely difficult. The electrical contact legs protrude sideways from holes in the side of the switch, instead of from the bottom of the switch.
The switch contains an internal recess for an LED, which is covered by the lid. The LED version of the switch has a different lid with a hole for the LED. The base of the switch contains a slot for the LED, with a retention clip to hold the LED in place. There are also two further holes present, possibly intended for a jumper or diode; there is also a bay under the rear of the switch to allow for a diode or jumper to be placed beneath the switch instead of outside. There is no difference between the normal and LED versions of the switch apart from the cutout in the lid to accommodate the LED.
The switch has a compact-sized companion, Alps SKFL Compact, which is not keycap-compatible.
Contact mechanism
The switch contacts are held by a plastic frame that appears to be moulded around them. A flat sheet is mounted onto the front of the contact frame, into which a leaf spring is cut, with a curled portion at the top. A ramp on the slider presses against this curled portion of the spring, which in turn pushes the movable contact away from the stationary contact. When the slider is depressed, the leaf spring returns to its rest position and the movable contact connects with the stationary contact.
Variants
| Switch | Model | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Alps SKFL | — | Standard weight; slider is pale grey, not white; the LED hole may be present but left empty |
 |
Alps SKFL LED | — | Slider is pale grey |
 |
Alps SKFL Cyan | — | Pale cyan slider;[2] heavier weight[Citation needed] |
 |
Alps SKFL Lock | — | |
|
Alps SKFL dummy | — | Apparent stabiliser dummy switch; dark green slider[3] |
Keyboards
- Atari 600XL & 800XL
- Canon AS KEY JIS A-1110[4]
- Kyocera Kyotronic 85 (& Re-Brands:)[5]
- NEC PC-8201 & PC-8300
- Olivetti M10[6]
- Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100
- Mitsubishi MP286L portable
- Some NEC PC-8001[7]
- Sharp MZ-1K03[8]
- Toshiba (Unknown Variant)[9]
- Toshiba Home Computer HX-10D[10]
- Toshiba T1100 Plus Portable[11]
- Toshiba T3100 Portable[11]
- Toshiba T3200 Portable[12]
- Toshiba Tosword[13][14]
- Toshiba Tosword JW-1 [15]
- Xerox 855 JWP[16]
- Zenith ZFL-181-93
Other Equipment
Gallery
The loose switches below were part of a Technology Transplant Roland TR-909 Red Switch Set purchased from Musikhaus Korn in Germany.
SKFL switches in an NEC PC-8201A
SKFL switches
Top
Side
Rear
Bottom
Bottom, side view
Contact frame, front view
Contact frame, front view, top
Contact frame, rear
Diode bays with diodes present
See also
References
- ↑ Technology Transplant — Alps SKFL Full Switch Set (2 + 17 RED LED) [TR-909] [X7RQ1]
- ↑ Imgur — Picture of heavy weight Alps switch with pale cyan slider Retrieved 2015-07-22.
- ↑ Deskthority — my biggest keyboard shipment receiving..
- ↑ Imgur — https://imgur.com/gallery/Q2HsK Retrieved 2019-11-25. Jump up↑
- ↑ Wikipedia — TRS-80 Model 100 Last updated 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
- ↑ Deskthority — Vintage laptop with old Alps switches & double-shot keycaps[Broken Link]
- ↑ Imgur — NEC PC-8001 (Alps SKFL) Uploaded 2024-09-15.
- ↑ olx — [1]
- ↑ Twitter — [2] Posted 2021-07-25.
- ↑ MouseFan — TOSHIBA HX-10D MSX Retrieved 2015-07-22.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Deskthority — Toshiba T3100 & T5200
- ↑ Deskthority — Toshiba T3200 Keyboard
- ↑ Imgur — Toshiba Tosword (Alps SKFL) Posted 2024-09-21.
- ↑ Imgur — Toshiba Tosword Variant (Alps SKFL) Uploaded 2024-10-08.
- ↑ Twitter — [3] Posted 2022-05-22.
- ↑ Twitter — [4] Posted 2020-05-06.
- ↑ Musikhaus Korn — Technology Transplant Roland TR-909 Red Switch Set [Volatile reference] Retrieved 2019-09-10.
- ↑ Deskthority — Various resto-mods Posted 2021-05-06.
